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Beetroot Juice for Respiratory Infections and Cold Symptoms

This study is looking at whether beetroot juice can help protect young adults from respiratory infections and cold symptoms, especially during stressful times like final exams. Researchers believe that beetroot juice, which contains dietary nitrate, might increase nitric oxide in your airways. Nitric oxide is a natural defense against germs. The study will involve 150 participants, who will take beetroot juice twice a day for 7 days. Researchers will measure exhaled nitric oxide (a gas in your breath), test for viruses, and track cold symptoms to see if beetroot juice helps. You can join if you are a student at SMU or Baylor University, aged 18-30, and don't have certain health conditions like asthma, COPD, or high levels of exhaled nitric oxide. The study's current status is unclear.

Study design
This interventional study plans to enroll 150 participants. It aims to compare the effects of beetroot juice with a placebo (a substance with no active ingredients).
What's involved
You would take beetroot juice twice a day for 7 days during your final academic examinations. You will have measurements taken at baseline, during the study, and after finishing the beetroot juice.
Compensation
Not stated in the trial record.
Follow-up
Measurements will be taken 1-3 days after finishing the beetroot shots (after final examinations).

AI-generated from the public study record. Only the study team can confirm whether you're eligible — confirm details with them before making decisions.

NCT06416228

Beetroot Juice NO Cold Study

UNKNOWN
PHASE2Ages 18–30InterventionalPrevention
Southern Methodist University
~150 participants
Updated 2024-05-16 on ClinicalTrials.gov
What's tested:Beetroot juice

At a glance

Recruiting sites
2 of 2 listed sites are recruiting right now
RecruitingSuspended, closed, or not yet open
What they're measuring
Exhaled Nitric Oxide
Measured over Baseline (non-stress mid point of semester), 1-3 days into active beetroot shots (during final examination period), 4-6 days into active beetroot shots (during final examination period)
+4 more outcomes measured

Conditions

Respiratory Tract Infections
Cold Symptoms
Exhaled Nitric Oxide

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NCT06416228

Where you'd take part

This study runs at 2 sites. They're the same protocol — you choose where, and that choice sets who your contact draft is addressed to.

  • Baylor University

    Waco, Texasstudy coordinator listed

    Recruiting

  • Southern Methodist University

    Dallas, Texasstudy coordinator listed

    Recruiting

Sites open and close at different times, so the status above is per site — it can differ from the study's overall status.

Study leadership

  • Thomas Ritz, Ph.D. · PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR · Southern Methodist University
  • Annie Ginty, Ph.D. · STUDY_DIRECTOR · Baylor University

Who to contact

Savannah Springfield, BA
[email protected]
(214) 768-6441
Email the study team

Opens a ready-to-send draft in your own email app — review before sending.

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Eligibility criteria

Inclusion

SMU or Baylor University students
Ages of 18-30 years old.

Exclusion

Active smokers
Smoking cannabis or vape
Students with clinically significant asthma
COPD and emphysema
Allergic rhinitis
High levels of exhaled nitric oxide (FENO ≥40ppb)
Developing kidney stone
Clinically significant heart disease
Cerebrovascular disease
Thyroid dysfunction
Out-of-control diabetes
Significant current problems with schizophrenia, psychosis, mood disorders, suicidality, and drug or alcohol dependence or abuse

What this trial measures

  • Exhaled Nitric OxideBaseline (non-stress mid point of semester), 1-3 days into active beetroot shots (during final examination period), 4-6 days into active beetroot shots (during final examination period)

    The Fraction of NO in Exhaled Breath (FENO, in ppb) will be measured with an electrochemical gas analyzer (NIOX vero).

  • Viral Polymerase Chain ReactionBaseline (non-stress mid point of semester), 4-6 days into active beetroot shots (during final examination period)

    Binary positive/negative test results for a panel of viral and bacterial respiratory pathogens.

  • Wisconsin Upper Respiratory Symptom Survey (WURSS)Baseline (non-stress mid point of semester), 1-3 days into active beetroot shots (during final examination period), 4-6 days into active beetroot shots (during final examination period), 1-3 days after finishing beetroot shots (after final examinations)

    Assess symptoms of acute upper respiratory tract infections (common cold symptoms) by questionnaire

  • Adherence monitoring (feasibility)Every day during active beetroot shots (Days 1-7)

    Participants will upload a cell phone video of their intake for that day to a secure cloud folder, time stamp in comparison to assigned intake windows provides measure of adherence

  • Burdensomeness1-3 days after finishing beetroot shots (after final examinations)

    Follow-up questionnaire will be administered with the online follow-up survey. It explores experience with the best mode of reminder receipt (email or text message), whether the participants guessed their condition, and how burdensome 8 aspects of the study (including daily intake, video recording, upload, questionnaires, physiological assessment) were.